• Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 161

Topic: Linux Hybrid Graphics

If you were like me and have i notebook with hybrid graphics than you know that this matter can be an utter pain. I have an Asus 1215N with an intel/Nvidia ion2 Optimus graphics chipset. I found a project called Bumblebee and it lets you use both sides of your graphics chipset at will. for example i can have my desktop running on my intel card while i have my nvidia card running a game at the same time on the same desktop, or you can run your entire desktop on the nvidia card. its up to you.

Here is a url for the Project.

https://github.com/MrMEEE/bumblebee

I will write a howto on what i had to do to get it working Crunchbang 10 Stable

First i had to get the debian version of Bumblebee from this git repo.

git clone https://github.com/z0rc/debumblebee

Next you will have to enable the 'sid' repo so you can get the proper nvidia glx driver.

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

and add this 

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ sid main contrib non-free

then update the package lists 'sudo apt-get update'

Now you need to change the distro name in your /etc/issue. This is so the script knows your running
a debian system.

so 'gksudo gedit /etc/issue'
and change it to look like this (you can change it back after the script has ran.)

Debian GNU/Linux \n \l

now cd in the bumblebee file and run the install script.

cd ~/bumblebee && sudo ./install.sh

now you should be good to go.

i did keep getting this one error

sudo: /etc/sudoers is mode 0644, should be 0440

its an easy fix though. just do

sudo chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/bumblebee
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,003

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Wow!! First time I'm hearing of this, and have to say it sounds great.

I don't own any hybrid-graphic-thingamajig systems, but I have an acquaintance with an Alienware laptop who'll probably be over the moon with this.

If the project gains enough momentum, it might even affect my future buying decisions (I've avoided switchable-graphics like the plague up till now).

Do let us know how it comes along on your setup, Slipshot.
Thanks for sharing smile

Point & Squirt
  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,471

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Never thought about those hybrid cards, but that sounds like a job for xnest to me.

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,003

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

^ There are a few solutions out there (ASUS switcheroo is another one), but I have zero experience with em since I don't own a rig with switchable Intel-Nvidia graphics. From all the documentation I've read on the various projects, @slipshot's suggestion does seem the most straightforward (on paper), and having a list of tested hardware does give a tad more assurance, I guess.

With regards to Xnest;
I have had a Xnest session successfully run fglrx before, but that's about it for my experience on the matter, unfortunately.

Last edited by gutterslob (2011-06-11 12:40:37)

Point & Squirt
  • aaro
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-11-15
  • Posts: 648

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Thanks a lot for sharing this. The only i have been able to do with this optimus thing is turn off the nvidia card to save some power... finally there's some hope...

- closed account - gone to better places -
  • olembe
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: Salisbury, England
  • Registered: 2009-04-29
  • Posts: 247

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Now we just need the equivalent for those of us with dual ATI cards... sad

  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 161

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

here is a little bit of info on ATI/AMD hybrid gfx.

http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.c … lebee.html

  • Registered: 2009-07-17
  • Posts: 70

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Wow, thanks for this one, tried to install Bumblebee on a 1215N and failed (missed the /etc/issue part as well as the SID repositories), so I have to run a modified Xubuntu right now for Nvidia Support. Now there's hope that I will be back with my favourite Distro, soon smile

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history - with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila (Mitch Ratcliffe)
  • Vixus
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-08-29
  • Posts: 5

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Ok, I followed all these instructions to the letter and it seemed to have gone well (although there were issues that didn't halt the script but might have been a problem). Here's a pastebin from me running the install script a second time around.

http://pastebin.com/MZZUHbMu

As you can see there was a problem with libc6 and update-alternatives.
If this is indeed working, how would I actually configure X to use this setup? nvidia-settings and nvidia-xconfig don't seem to be installed.

I'm using a Clevo WH150 with Intel i7 Sandy Bridge/nVidia GT540M.

Cheers.

  • Vixus
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-08-29
  • Posts: 5

Re: Linux Hybrid Graphics

Ok, in any case this hasn't worked as the optirun command locks up my system. Is there an uninstall script of some kind to undo all the stuff this has done? Probably not... tongue